Write us!


What would you like to see on The Blaaag? Tell us at theblaaag@gmail.com.

If you're new to this blog (and you must be - we officially launched this week), here are some things you should come back to read up on.

  • What did members of AAA do this summer? We're sure you were just dying to know! (No, actually, we have some pretty cool stories for y'all.)
  • Our continual involvement with the Justice Will Be Served! campaign. We're still in the fight.
  • Inside The Boardroom: Some changes in the structure and goals of AAA have been brainstormed. Stay tuned to find out about our "turn".

Among one of AAA's major irritations last year was a certain gaff that occurred on The View out of the sweet mouth of Rosie O'Donnell. Let's see the clip, shall we?

(Nevermind the conservative source; they make the culprit out to be Rosie more than it is racism. Sarah Silverman did it too.)



Of course, we did what any socially-conscious college student would have. We made a Facebook group. But also, we brought together Political Committee and Chinese Students Club members to talk about the boundaries between humor and racism. The discussion, admittedly, was okay.

Still, seems like some things don't change. On Whoopi Goldberg's first day as co-host of The View, she defended Michael Vick with a little "cultural perspective". Basically, after saying that a pastime like dogfighting would be normal for Southerners, she drew the analogy that eating cats would be normal for the Chinese. Following the last View blunder not even a year ago, the show has not become more correct - much less fair to Chinese people.

Comedy as a defense? Excuse overdone, Whoopi. Besides, I don't believe that was anything short of offensively drawing up some perpetual, yet false, cultural differences.

Update: An amazing girl by the name of Ellen sent us this link to the reaction by slam poet Beau Sia to the 'ching chong' incident. Ellen, you ever see us let yourself be known, 'cause we're gonna shower you with AAA love. (Just after she attended our G-Body meeting, guys!)

How do you pronounce that? The Bl-AHH-g? No, really, how would you pronounce that? (Like, in your own country?)”

Before everything, we’d like to settle a few things. Yes, we the creators of The Blaaag are quite aware that we have managed a type of word modification that a certain other infamous blog was first to accomplish. But where’s the harm? (Who’s to deny the Black Students Organization the creation of their very own Bsog?) The name only reflects the simplicity of our purpose – to be a new outlet for issues discussed by the Asian American Alliance.

But the situation could be a tad more complicated than just this. At best, we’re just another student group readjusting a hip word to serve our ends. At worst, we’re unoriginal Asian people trying to mooch off the success of the only blog that non-political and non-techie Columbians now read with any regularity. (You're welcome.)

An overused technique like this perhaps deserves no more discussion. (Come on, it's not that bad, is it?) We are hoping, though, that once you read about the things that we think about, work on, and fight against, you'll see that we're no cheap knock-off.

Post-script: And just so you know, in our writing we will never, ever refer to The Blaaag in the third person.

It would be nice to write about how The Blaaag only culminated into a reality when David and I corresponded from different ends of the world, exchanging ideas while sipping cheap alcohol and reading books about race politics. But that's only a hip, summery spin on reality. The true inspiration happened when ignorance pushed us to our last limit.

Whose ignorance? That of our collective peers towards Asian American issues. In a society that swears by a slew of racial stereotypes (twenty of which have popped into your mind already), people don’t know that there is an ongoing crop of activism and protest pitted against such poor actions. Campaigns dealing with
Saigon Grill and Lafayette High School pass over people’s heads like nothing, and even when racism screams in our faces we tend to care more about the new ID card’s swipe access, who got CAVA-ed at EC, or the impressionable freshmen that don’t know to hide their plastic badges.

If the ignorance thing did not happen on a daily basis and if the social/political differences that some people made carried through with a bigger bang, we would just write commentary on how Swish and Ollie’s are not the epitome of great Pan-Asian cuisine and so not worth your money (
*cough* go here instead).

But that’s not really how it is right now; sometimes, sitting in 212 at 3 am isn’t enough to contain our squeamish discontent and frequent outcries, followed by many unwritten papers and extra coffee. We’d like to give people a more comfortable space—the internet—to explore the so-called other world that they are so afraid to venture into, to advise them to pay attention to things that have gone unnoticed for too long.

The Last Note: Granted, anything wearing the heavy scent of an Ivy League education (and some of you scoff because Barnard supposedly doesn’t count) sounds obnoxious and dismissible, even more so when coming from a group of people whose food is deemed a
health hazard. (Not that all Asians are Chinese, but would you have told them apart anyway?)

Mission Statement

"I am here to speak. Say the words... Do not be afraid. It is all right, so do not be afraid. You are not really alone. You may die, but you will have been heard. Keep speaking -- it is real. You have a voice." - Chang-Rae Lee

This blog seeks to reject the norm. It seeks to offer the suppressed thoughts, alternate viewpoints, and unheard voices of passionate young men and women, fighting to take a stand in the narratives of race being told around us today.

We hope to re-examine events in and/or relevant to the Columbia/Barnard community from various Asian American perspectives, with helpings of thoughtful commentary and a dash of irreverent wit. No soy sauce included.

The Blaaag does not speak for any Asian American community, but strives to spark dialogue amongst those who wish to contribute to the conversation, whether their opinions are similar or contrary to our own. Additionally, The Blaaag does not have a single message, but reflects a variety that comes from our diverse body of contributors.

What we say is often loud, ugly, and real. You don't have to like us, but listen up.

A new AAA logo!


 

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